Rack guiding device and dish washer comprising the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a rack guiding device and a dish washer having the same. According to the present invention, a drawing length of a rack is increased substantially by a moving rail which is drawn out of a washing chamber as it slides along a guide rail, and a frictional force between the guide rail and the moving rail is reduced by a bearing member while the moving rail slides along the guide rail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This document relates to a dish washer, and more particularly, to a rackguiding device for guiding an receiving and drawing of a rack on which adish is seated and a dish washer having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A dishwasher is a home appliance that washes a dish by injecting washingwater at a high pressure and dries the washed dish by using ahigh-temperature high-moisture air. Generally, the dishwasher includes arack on which a dish is seated. The rack is drawably installed in awashing chamber, in which a dish is washed, so as to be drawn in and outof the washing chamber.

In order to guide an receiving and drawing of the rack, a guide rollerand a guide rail are provided therein. The guide roller is configured tobe a pair of guide rollers which are vertically spaced apart at apredetermined distance, and they are provided in both sides of the dishwasher as they are spaced apart at a predetermined distance in a backand forth direction. The guide rail is provided in both side ends of therack. Therefore, if a user pulls the rack from the washing chamber orpushes the rack into the washing chamber, the receiving and drawing ofthe rack is guided by forwardly/backwardly sliding the guide rail as theguide rail is disposed between the guide rollers. At this time, theguide rollers are forwardly/reversely rotated according to the slidingof the guide rail in a back and forth direction.

However, the dish washer of the related art has following problems.

As described in the above, the receiving and drawing of the rack isguided by the guide rail provided in both side ends of the rack and bythe guide rollers provided in both sides of the washing chamber.Therefore, the receiving and drawing of the rack is guided only for alength corresponding to a longitudinal length of the guide rail, i.e. alongitudinal length of the rack.

Also, the rack is downwardly tilted by a self weight of the rack and aself weight of the dish from the front direction, when the rack is drewmore than a half of its longitudinal length from the washing chamber.And, when the rack is downwardly tilted from the front direction, thereceiving and drawing of the rack may be not smoothly operated, or thedish seated on the rack may be broken as it is dropped out of the rack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to solve these problems of the related art, andan object of the present invention is to provide a rack guiding devicecapable of increasing a length which guides a rack during an receivingand drawing of the rack, and a dish washer having the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rack guidingdevice capable of implementing an receiving and drawing of a rack moresmoothly as well as preventing a dish from being damaged, and a dishwasher having the same.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein,there is provided a rack guiding device, including: a guide railprovided in a washing chamber; and a moving rail sliding along the guiderail and connected to a rack which is drew out and received in thewashing chamber.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rackguiding device, including: a guide rail provided in a washing chamber; amoving rail sliding along the guide rail and connected to a rack whichis drew out and received in the washing chamber; and a bearing memberdisposed between the guide rail and the moving rail and minimizingfrictional force between the moving rail and the guide rail whilesliding the moving rail over the guide rail.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dishwasher, including: a cabinet in which a washing chamber is formed; atleast one rack drew out and received in the washing chamber, on which adish is seated; and a rack guiding device according to any one of claims1 to 12, which guides the rack drew out and received in the washingchamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a dish washer according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of a dish washeraccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a main part of adish washer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a moving rail constituting a dishwasher according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a bearing member constituting adish washer according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a rack guiding device and a dish washer having the same ofthe present invention will be explained in more detail with reference toaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dish washer according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows aperspective view of a main part of a dish washer according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 shows alongitudinal cross-sectional view of a main part of a dish washeraccording to the present invention, FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of amoving rail constituting a dish washer according to the presentinvention, and FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a bearing memberconstituting a dish washer according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a dish washer includes a cabinet 110 in which awashing chamber 113 is formed, a door 120 selectively opening/closingthe washing chamber 113, a rack 130, 140 drawably installed in thewashing chamber 113 so as to be drawn in and out of the washing chamber,and a rack guiding device 200 guiding an receiving and drawing of therack 130, 140.

The washing chamber 113 is a place where a dish is substantially washed,and the washing chamber 113 is formed by a tub 111 forming an inner partof the cabinet 110. The washing chamber 113 is formed in a shape of ahexahedron in which a front surface is opened. Also, various kinds ofparts, such as a water guide 115 for washing the dish and a nozzle 117,119 are provided in the cabinet 110. The water guide 115 serves to guidewashing water pumped by a sump (not illustrated) for washing the dishinto the nozzle 117, 119. The nozzle 117, 119 includes an upper nozzle117 and a lower nozzle 119. The upper and lower nozzles 117, 119 serveto inject the washing water guided by the water guide 115 toward therack 130, 140.

The door 120 opens/closes the washing chamber 113 in a pull-down manner,which a top of the door is pivoted about a bottom of the door. And, anair outlet 121 for discharging the air, which absorbs moisture whiledrying the dish, is provided in the door 120. Also, even though they arenot illustrated, a blowing fan supplying a driving force for circulatingthe air is provided in the door 120 to dry the dish, and a condenser fordehydrating the air containing the moisture and discharged through theair outlet 121 is provided in the door 120.

Meanwhile, the rack 130, 140 includes an upper rack 130 and a lower rack140. The upper and lower racks 130, 140 are drawably installed so as tobe drawn in and out of the washing chamber 113. A dish to be washed isseated on the upper rack 130 and the lower rack 140. The upper rack 130is installed in an upper part of the washing chamber 113, and the lowerrack 140 is installed in a lower part of the washing chamber 113. Inthis embodiment, the rack 130, 140 includes an upper rack 130 and alower rack 140, however one rack or three and more racks may be drawablyinstalled so as to be drawn in and out of the washing chamber 113.

The rack guiding device 200 guides the receiving and drawing of theupper rack 130 between the upper and lower racks 130, 140. Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the rack guiding device 200 includes a guide rail 210, amoving rail 220, a bearing member 230 and a roller 240.

The guide rail 210 is horizontally disposed at both sides of the washingchamber 113 in a back and forth direction, respectively. The guide rail210 is formed to have a cross-section substantially a

shape, as surfaces which face to each other are opened. A ball-bearingguide groove 211 is provided in the upper and lower surfaces of theguide rail 210, respectively. The ball-bearing guide groove 211 of theguide rail 210 is formed as the upper and lower surfaces of the guiderail 210 is depressed in a shape of “V.”

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the moving rail 220 is slidably installed inthe guide rail 210, so that the moving rail 220 may slide on the guiderail 210 in a longitudinal direction while the upper rack 130 is drewout and received in the washing chamber 113. And, a portion of themoving rail 220 is drew out of the washing chamber 113 when the upperrack 130 is drew out of the washing chamber 113. Therefore, the movingrail 220 serves to increase the length which the upper rack 130 issubstantially guided. Also, the rest part of the moving rail 220 servesto substantially support the upper rack 130 drew out of the washingchamber 113 as the moving rail is overlapped with the guide rail 210, incase that a portion of the moving rail 220 is drew out of the washingchamber 113. The moving rail 220 is formed to have a cross-section,which corresponds to that of the guide rail 210, of substantially a

shape, as surfaces which face to each other are opened. In case that themoving rail 220 is installed in the guide rail 210, the upper and lowersurfaces of the guide rail 210, and the upper and lower surfaces of themoving rail 220 are spaced apart at a predetermined distance. Also, aball-bearing guide groove 221, which corresponds to the ball-bearingguide groove 211 of the guide rail 210, is formed in the upper and lowersurfaces of the moving rail 220. The ball-bearing guide groove 221 ofthe moving rail 220 is formed to have a longitudinal cross-section of a“V” shape, in which the upper and lower surfaces of the guide rail 210is depressed and opened to the vertical direction. Therefore, in casethat the moving rail 220 is installed in the guide rail 210, theball-bearing guide groove 211 of the guide rail 210 and the ball-bearingguide groove 221 of the moving rail 220 face to each other. And, alocking lug 223 is formed on a front end in the lower surface of themoving rail 220. The locking lug 223 prevents the roller 240 whichslides along the moving rail 220 from being detached therefrom. Thelocking lug 223 is formed, as a portion of the front end in the lowersurface of the moving rail 220 is upwardly protruded therefrom.

The bearing member 230 serves to minimize frictional force between theguide rail 210 and the moving rail 220, while the moving rail 220 slidesalong the guide rail 210 due to the receiving and drawing of the upperlack 130. The bearing member 230 is respectively provided in the guiderail 210, and it is substantially disposed between the guide rail 210and the moving rail 220. Referring to FIG. 5, the bearing member 230includes a bearing supporter 231 and a plurality of ball bearings 237.

The bearing supporter 231, as same with the guide rail 210 and themoving rail 220, is formed to have a longitudinal cross-section ofsubstantially a “

” shape as surfaces which face to each other are opened. A plurality ofbearing supporting holes 233 are formed in the upper and lower surfaceof the bearing supporter 231. The bearing supporting holes 233 are tosupport the ball bearings 237. And, a plurality of bearing support ribs235 are respectively formed in the upper and lower surface of thebearing supporter 231 adjacent to an outer circumference of the bearingsupporting holes 233. The bearing support ribs 235 prevent the ballbearings 237 supported in the bearing supporting holes 233 from beingdetached therefrom. The bearing support ribs 235 provided in the upperand lower surface of the bearing supporter 231 are extended upward ordownward, respectively.

The ball bearings 237 are rollably or slidably supported in the bearingsupporting holes 233, respectively. The ball bearings 237 are formed ina shape of “ball,” of which the diameter of the ball bearings 237 isgreater than that of the bearing supporting holes 233. In a state thatthe ball bearings 237 are supported in the bearing supporting holes 233,the outer circumference of the ball bearings 237 contacts with theball-bearing guide groove 211 of the guide rail 210 and with theball-bearing guide groove 221 of the moving rail 220.

Meanwhile, the roller 240 is disposed inside the moving rail 220. Theroller 240 serves to guide the receiving and drawing of the upper rack130 as it slides along the moving rail 220, while the upper rack 130 isdrew in and out of the washing chamber 113. And, the roller 240 alsoserves to allow the moving rail 220 to slide along the guide rail 210due to the draw of the upper rack 130, since the roller 240 is caught bythe locking lug 223 while the roller 240 slides along the moving rail220. Also, when the upper rack 130 is completely drew out of the washingchamber 113, the upper rack 130 is detached from the washing chamber 113as the roller 240 climbs and passes the locking lug 223.

Hereinafter, the operation of a rack guiding device and a dish washerhaving the same according to the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention will be explained.

First, in order to wash the dishes, the washing chamber 113 is opened bypivoting the door 120. And, the washing chamber 113 is drew by pullingthe upper rack 130 received in the washing chamber 113 toward the frontof the washing chamber 113.

The roller 240 slides along the moving rail 220, when the upper rack 130is pulled toward the front of the washing chamber 113 in order to drawthe upper rack 130. This sliding of the roller 240 continues to slideuntil the roller 240 contacts with the locking lug 223.

And, in case that the upper rack 130 is continued to be pulled towardthe front of the washing chamber 113 even though the roller 240 closelycontacts with the locking lug 223, the moving rail 220 starts to slidealong the guide rail 210.

At this time, the frictional force between the guide rail 210 and themoving rail 220 is reduced by the bearing member 230, more particularly,by a rolling motion or a siding motion of the ball bearing 237 disposedbetween the guide rail 210 and the moving rail 220. Therefore, thesliding of the moving rail 220 for drawing the upper rack 130 out of thewashing chamber 113 may be accomplished more smoothly. And, the bearingmember 230 slides between the guide rail 210 and the moving rail 220 orremains stationary, while the moving rail 220 slides along the guiderail 210.

Also, the length, through which the upper rack 130 is guided, isincreased by a length of the moving rail 220. Therefore, the user mayseat the dish on the upper rack 130 or take out the dish seated on theupper rack 130 by further drawing the upper rack 130 out of the washingchamber 113.

In addition, a portion of the moving rail 220 is disposed inside theguide rail 210 in a state that the upper rack 130 is drawn. Therefore,the upper rack 130 is maintained horizontal by the guide rail 210 andthe moving rail 220, even though the upper rack 130 is completely drawnout of the washing chamber 113.

Meanwhile, the dish to be washed is seated on the upper rack 130 whenthe upper rack 130 is drawn out of the washing chamber 113. And, theupper rack 130 is received in the washing chamber 113 in reverse order,which is opposite to the order when the upper rack 130 is drew out ofthe washing chamber 113.

And, the washing chamber 113 is closed by pivoting the door 120 aftercompletely receiving the upper rack 130 into the washing chamber 113.Once the washing chamber 113 is closed, the dish is washed by operatingthe dish washer. In short, the dish is washed as the washing waterincluding detergent, which is guided along the water guide 150 bypumping the sump, is injected through the upper nozzle 117 and the lowernozzle 119. And, after finishing the wash of the dish by means of thewashing water including detergent, the dish is rinsed as a washing wateris injected through the upper nozzle 117 and the lower nozzle 119. Afterfinishing the wash and the rinse of the dish, the dish is dried becausehigh-temperature low-moisture air is introduced into the washing chamber113 by driving the blowing fan. The air, which absorbed moisture whiledrying the dish, is discharged through the air outlet 121 and isdehydrated by the condenser, and is re-supplied into the washing chamber113.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to theillustrated embodiment and that many changes and modifications can bemade within the scope of the invention by a skilled person in the art,and that the scope of the present invention should be interpreted basedon the general inventive concept as defined in the following claims.

According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, onlythe upper rack is guided by the rack guiding device, however the presentinvention is not restricted thereto. That is, the lower rack also can beguided by the rack guiding device.

And, a stopping means for preventing the moving rail from beingcompletely detached from the guide rail may be provided. For example, aguide lug is provided in one of the guide rail and the moving rail, anda guide slot, in which the guide lug is inserted, is provided in theother of the guide rail and the moving rail. And, it is possible toprevent the moving rail from being completely detached from the guiderail, since the guide lug moves along the guide slot in a state that theguide lug is inserted in the guide slot when the moving rail slidesalong the guide rail. Or, it is possible to prevent the moving rail frombeing completely detached from the guide rail, since a pair of stoppers,which closely contact to each other in a state that the moving railslides along the guide rail at a predetermined distance, are provided inthe guide rail and the moving rail, respectively.

As described in the above, a rack guiding device and a dish washerhaving the same according to the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention have the following advantages.

According to the present invention, a drawing length of a rack isincreased substantially by a moving rail. Therefore, the serviceabilityof the dish washer is enhanced because the user may further draw therack out of the washing chamber.

Also, according to the present invention, when the rack is completelydrawn out of the washing chamber, a portion of the moving rail isdisposed inside the guide rail, i.e. the moving rail is overlapped withthe guide rail. Therefore, this prevents the dish from being damagedwhile the user seats the dish on the rack or takes out the dish seatedon the rack, since the rack is maintained horizontal even though therack is completely drawn out of the washing chamber.

In addition, according to the present invention, the frictional forcebetween the guide rail and the moving rail is reduced by a bearingmember. Therefore, it is possible to draw the rack more smoothly as wellas to minimize the noise generated while drawing the rack in and out ofthe washing chamber.

1. A rack guiding device, comprising: a guide rail provided in a washingchamber; and a moving rail sliding along the guide rail and connected toa rack which is received in and drew out of the washing chamber.
 2. Therack guiding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a rollerbeing slidable along the moving rail or the rack in a state that therack is connected with the moving rail.
 3. The rack guiding deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the guide rail is provided on both sidesof the washing chamber at the same horizontal plane.
 4. The rack guidingdevice according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the movingrail is drew out of the washing chamber while the rack is received inand drew out of the washing chamber.
 5. A rack guiding device,comprising: a guide rail provided in a washing chamber; a moving railsliding along the guide rail and connected to a rack which is receivedin and drew out of the washing chamber; and a bearing member disposedbetween the guide rail and the moving rail and minimizing frictionalforce between the moving rail and the guide rail while sliding themoving rail over the guide rail.
 6. The rack guiding device according toclaim 5, further comprising: a roller being slidable along the movingrail or the rack in a state that the rack is connected with the movingrail.
 7. The rack guiding device according to claim 5, wherein thebearing member includes at least a plurality of ball bearings.
 8. Therack guiding device according to claim 5, wherein the bearing memberslides between a front end of the guide rail and a rear end the movingrail while the moving rail slides along the guide rail.
 9. The rackguiding device according to claim 5, wherein the bearing membercomprises a bearing supporter disposed between the guide rail and themoving rail, and a plurality of ball bearings which are rollably orslidably supported in the bearing supporter.
 10. The rack guiding deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein the ball bearings are supported in aplurality of bearing supporting holes formed at the bearing supporter.11. The rack guiding device according to claim 9, wherein a ball-bearingguide groove, in which the ball bearings move while the moving railslides along the guide rail, is respectively formed in a region, wherethe ball bearings contact with the guide rail and the moving rail, ofthe guide rail and the moving rail.
 12. The rack guiding deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein a bearing support rib provided in thebearing supporter, for preventing the ball bearings which is supportedfrom being detached.
 13. A dish washer, comprising: a cabinet in which awashing chamber is formed; at least one rack which is drew from andreceived in the washing chamber, on which a dish is seated; and a rackguiding device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which guides therack drew from and received in the washing chamber.